Rubiaceae

Variously called as the Coffee family or the Madder family, it consists of 660 genera with more than 11,000 species of herbs, shrubs and trees distributed primarily in the tropical areas of the world. Leaves are usually large and opposite. They bear a single flower or small flowers clustered together. Economically very important, the most noted species being the coffee species and quinine derived from the Cinchona species. Ornamental plants include Ixora and Gardenia.